Taking a holiday break!

I was expecting to keep blogging normally throughout the holidays, but I'm taking a break to catch up with friends, family, books, and PJs! I hope everybody is having just as relaxing of a break.

Grown lady

The weather's been freakishly warm, so more bare arms for me.

Crocheted top - Handmade, passed to me from Mom, Silk blouse - J.Crew warehouse sale, Pearls (can't see in the pics) - Present from Parents, Pants - J.Crew warehouse sale, Gold heels - Salvatore Ferragamo

I've been wanting to wear this cropped top for a while with these high-waisted pants.

Complete with pleats, of course.

What? You need a close-up of my shoes?

Oooh, shiny.

I've been trying to wrap up some end-of-year things at work, but I've mainly been thinking, Almost Christmas break, almost there...just one more day! Then a whole week off for me--whee!

Black and white mix-up

I was looking for an outfit where I could mix some black and white patterns.

Dress (worn as shirt) - Nordstrom Rack, Cami (underneath) - Target, Cardigan - Pac Sun, Skirt - Ann Taylor Loft, Belt - Lacoste, Socks - Forever 21, Boots - Vince Camuto

I used this teal color to tie together the outfit.

I was excited to wear my new knee-high socks, though they're scrunched down.

And of course I love anytime I can wear these boots!

So comfortable!

I was running around in them--a doctor's appointment, a meeting, listening to some Christmas carols, and celebrating a coworker's birthday. Not too much work got done somehow...'tis the season, I guess.

H&M Mama

So earlier this month I posted an entry I called "H&M Virgin". Well, maybe it's just because it's nearly Christmas, but here's H&M Mama for you.

Purple jeweled headband - Nordstrom, Sweater - H&M, apparently from their maternity line, Black shirt (underneath) - Target, Black jeans - Gap, Black boots - Luxury Rebel

No lie--I wander into maternity sections all the time, think clothes are cute, and am ready to try them on when I realize, Oh, I'm in completely the wrong section.

Cute, tricky maternity clothes.

Last year, this sweater was hanging by the dressing rooms at H&M with a $20 sign on it. I don't have enough sweaters, the price was right, it was cute, so into the dressing room I went with it, then promptly bought it.

After wearing it a few times I realized...

The tag of the sweater says H&M Mama. Which is H&M's maternity line, apparently. Sigh.

The vest of times

Ah-ha, something to wear my vest with...

White vest - J.Crew warehouse sale, Cashmere top - also J.Crew warehouse sale, Belt - Primark, Gray maxi skirt - Express, White watch - Michele Watches, Clogs - Frye

I really thought this was the last of my J.Crew sale haul, but it's not! One more cardigan and one more dress.

But I was glad to at least finally wear the vest.

I think it would have been easier to style a black vest, and I don't know why I haven't just bought one yet. I see cheap ones all the time at Forever 21 and the like.

But I do think this will be a great piece in the spring and summer.

Have you recently worn a vest? I would love to see how others have styled theirs.

Just one week 'til Christmas

Sunday was a super day--I got almost everything checked off the Weekend To Do List.

Pearls - Present from Parents, Chambray shirt - H&M, Brown sweater - American Eagle, from Sister's closet (don't know why she gave it up), Black down vest - Gap, Blue skinny cargoes - American Eagle, Boots - Sam Edelman

Including going for an invigorating walk outside while catching up with Best Friend on the phone. I love catching up and laughing with her. I also love...switching out purses.

Purse - Louis Vuitton

I had some errands to run and needed to carry around a camera, my Kindle, and a notebook, so I had to go for my big bag.

Wish I had put up my hair, though.

Do you see how when I have tons of stuff going on around my neck (necklace, collar of shirt, vest), it's best to get my hair out of the way?

Also to give me some height when I'm wearing flat boots.

Have you baked your holiday cookies yet? I got my dough ready and freezed them, all while listening to my Glee Christmas album, volume 1. It really put me in the holiday mood!

Fave of the week: December 10-December 16

Hitting you with a pretty simple outfit for fave of the week this time. It's from Sunday:

I adore the sleeves of this sweater dress; they give the look a little something special. Oh, right, and I love turtlenecks, which I never really explained why. One of my friends in college saw me wearing a turtleneck sweater once and said, "Ooooh, girl, you work those turtlenecks like nobody's business." And I thought, Do I? But I kept thinking about what he said every time I wore one, and now I have this weird love and confidence when it comes to turtlenecks. Maybe other people don't agree (and that's fine, just don't tell me), but now I truly feel like I do work them.

Is there something you feel like you work like nobody else?

Haturday - 17 December 2011

So I think I'm going to try a new series here on ABCD: Haturday! Hats worn on Saturday.

What? Is that corny?

I have a good amount of hats, but I don't wear them as much as I would like to. Weekends are the only time I can wear them because who wears hats to work? Besides constructions workers. And chefs. So...Haturday!

Hat - Albertus Swanepoel for Target, Turtleneck - J.Crew warehouse sale (yep, still!), Leopard belt - dEliA*s, Jeans - Gap, Boots - Uggs

My Haturday was super. I wore this hat to the grocery store where I bought everything on sale and used tons of coupons.

Since I'm on a clothes shopping ban, I've found a new, fun way to spend my money. And save it too!

My haircut from last month has my layers escaping even more from my braids, but it didn't really look too bad until the end of the day (when these pictures were taken, of course).

After baking dozens of chocolate chip cookies! And making roasted tomato soup.

So actually I've had a pretty tiring Haturday. Maybe I'll get in more relaxing tomorrow. Hope you're having a great weekend!

Denim Friday

So I tried out this Anthropologie cardigan again:

Top - Anthropolgie, Belt - dEliA*s, Denim dress - H&M, Wine knee high socks - Forever 21, Boots - Frye

I so much love the colors! But it's been difficult to style because of the length.

I was thrilled with how this turned out, though!

I was also happy to find a new way to wear this denim dress. I bought this dress thinking it was fantastic, but whenever I wear it, I feel like it's too young of a look.

I think it's both the cut and color of it.

I'm going to attempt to find a few more ways to style up this dress, but if I can't do it, I might have to Goodwill it. My closet needs a good cleaning anyway. Have you cleaned out any old clothes lately?

The pants mean business, my friends.

What do you do when you have a professional luncheon to go to, the weather warms up, and you haven't shaved your legs in forever and a day (what?! It's been cold. And my legs get itchy shaving too often)?

Floral headband - Missoni for Target, Cashmere top - J.Crew warehouse sale, Blazer - Nordstrom, Pink belt - American Eagle, Brown pants - Express, Boots - Franco Sarto

You pull out your Editor Slacks or whatever the heck Express calls them. And a blazer. You know, with elbow patches.

Damn, girl, you're thinking, that is super professional. I know.

But because I wanted to have some color and I didn't really care to impress and network (what? I didn't. You're lucky I didn't show them my hairy legs.), I went with a pink belt and floral headband.

I swear I didn't have my belly hanging out all day at least, like it is in this pic.

Maybe it was the headband, maybe it was the amount of meetings (and this lunch thing) I had going on, but I just felt like a little kid playing grown-up all day. Actually, I won't so much blame the headband. I think sometimes at work, people have meetings just to have meetings. And nothing real is said, no real solutions. Like if Child was playing "Work", she would probably have the same conversations I had today. Hope your day was more productive than mine!

Mac and cheesiness

You know what's nice in the middle of the week? Having a holiday potluck lunch party.

Purple jeweled headband - Nordstrom, Purple cardigan - Banana Republic (Present from...Mom or Sister!), Silk blouse - J.Crew (warehouse sale! A different silk blouse!), Cheetah belt - dEliA*S, Patterned skirt - Anthropologie, Boots - Naughty Monkey

What a fun break! And I got a present--a French press! Oh, how I love my coffee.

What else do I love? Besides pockets?

Mac and cheese! I made Paula Deen's creamy macaroni and cheese, mainly because I like providing hot dishes, and it's oh-so-easy when you have a slow cooker appropriate dish! Also love:

Swingy skirts! Which I tried to show here but instead I look crazy.

So back to a normal pose.

Camera shy

So sometimes when I take my own pics, I like to experiment with poses and facial expressions.

A coy "look at my outfit" look: Hat - H&M, Denim jacket - Gap, Pink sweater - Martin + Osa (oh, how I miss you), Purse - Burberry Prorsum, Maxi dress - Gap Outlet, Clogs - Frye

This pose and face says, "Attitude."

While this next one clearly says,

"I was trying to spin around and nearly tripped on my giant clog."

Had a fun night Tuesday meeting the family and a new friend for dinner. We had yummy Mexican food and maybe a margarita or two.

The "I need to do something with my arms" look.

It's nice to look forward to Tuesday night plans! It makes the beginning of the week less painful. Hope everybody else is having a good week!

Patterns, colors, and teased hair.

I felt like colors today!

Pearl necklace - Present from Parents, Striped sweater - Gap, Skirt - Anthropologie, White watch - Michele Watches, Bracelets- Uniquities, Boots - Miz Mooz

Probably because I woke up to a gray, cold Monday.

I considered tucking in the sweater--what do we think of it like this, though?

The outfit could have been improved upon, but I was mainly happy with it. Pattern-mixing always gives me a boost.

And skirts with pockets, of course.

And new hairstyles! I teased it quite a bit, put in a thin black headband, pinned back the top and side sections, bunned the rest, but left out some of it for a pony.

I was at least pleased with my hair.

Have you tried a new hairstyle lately? Do share. I love trying new hairstyles!

Fave of the week: December 3-December 9

It's an oldie but goodie--my fave outfit is from Monday:

I liked so many other outfits from this week--Wednesday's knee socks and clogs, Thursday was quite different for me, and Friday's accessories. But this dress was my first real foray into patterns, and it should get a shout-out. Popping against simple black tights and booties and highlighted with a gold cardigan and accessories, this dress is super easy to wear and also easy to style up.

Do you love turtlenecks?

This is a super similar outfit to Friday's.

Silver flower (in hair) - Nordstrom Rack, Blue sweater dress - Arden B., Black leggings - Roots, Boots - Gentle Souls for Kenneth Cole

Different hair accessory, different color sweater, different type of leggings.

But essentially the same.

I forgot how much I liked this sweater dress until I wore it on Saturday out to lunch with friends at the mall.

I need to wear it as a top under a skirt or something.

The turtleneck, the sleeves, the rich color--just lovely.

Have I talked about how much I love turtlenecks before? Because I do. Love them.

Patterns ahoy

It's been extra cold the last few days, and I was still in a birthday mood, so I had to pull out my own birthday present...

Scarf - Burberry (the birthday present, from Husband), Floral shirt - the Limited, Blazer - Nordstrom, Belt - dEliA*s, Jeans - Gap, Boots - Naughty Monkey

I have long wanted this scarf, and was very lucky to get it as a present.

It's made up of the softest blue, pink, purple, cream, and brown.

I played off the little bit of pink in the scarf and put on this shirt, then thought, Great, I can wear my brown blazer!

I never realized how little brown I had in my closet...until I couldn't find anything to go with this blazer!

The beige in the floral shirt plays with the beige and brown blazer. Beige and brown...what does that remind us of?

Leopard print, of course! Throw in the belt!

I get extra time on weekends to experiment with my hair too. I did two French braids, one on each side of my head, meeting in the middle for a low ponytail. I was trying to do the boho braid, as featured on the beauty department, but I didn't start with wavy hair and didn't tease it properly. Ugh, so many hair pics make me want to get long bangs.

Happy, relaxed birthday

This is a busy season with holidays, work travel, and birthdays for me. But I have to let that stress go and just enjoy the festivities, including and especially Friday's birthday.

Multi-colored headband - Target, Sweater dress - Arden B., Coat - Gap, Leggings - Arden B., Boots - Gentle Souls for Kenneth Cole

I loved seeing the family--eating, talking, and laughing. We ate yummy Italian food, then came back to the house for ice cream cake and coffee.

Happy birthday!

That was after a whole day off from work so I was extra relaxed and happy. That is just the thing to do during this season--take off extra days!

And do not check your work email!